Eclectic outings

Winter in Paris is gray, rainy and cold -- not exactly picture-taking weather -- and so I apologize for the lack of recent postcard photos of Paris. However, we haven't been staying home! Recent outings included conferences with various titles such as: "Will future robots resemble humans?" "What does China want? From Mao to capitalism" "The discovery of the Higgs boson" and "Sex, love, and seduction on the internet."

We've also seen several movies, including Django Unchained, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, and Alceste
à Bicyclette.
 
Saturday night we went to small bar in the 20th arrondissement to listen to music. The show opened with a group of six young French rap singers. I don't know if they were presenting their own or others' music, but I enjoyed their energy. 
 
 Next up was a quintet of rock musicians who sang in both French and English. Toes tapping, we drank mojitos and sat in the front row.
 

The headliners for the concert came onstage around 10:30 PM.
 
 I noticed that while setting up sound equipment that they also placed a full box of packaged ear plugs in front of the stage. Hmmm. The music was a little loud, but I sure liked the lead singer's cowboy boots!

I'll sure be glad when spring comes along so that we can start going out again . . . .

Paris outings

We're back to our regular practice of visiting Paris, cameras in hand. This weekend featured a Breton festival of scallops (coquilles St. Jacques) near Montmartre. We didn't eat any scallops but did sample some tasty oysters.










 We also enjoyed the first blue skies after several days of cold and rain.

 

Back in Paris

After a quick plane change in Chicago and a short (7 hour) flight from Chicago to Paris, I arrived this morning to find Patrice at the airport waiting for me.

Here I am coming through the doors at the airport. Can you tell that I'm happy to be back?

Leaving Colorado

Today I'm leaving behind the blue skies, mountains, and wide open spaces of Colorado. I'll miss the dry air and I'll miss my family. But I am so excited to return to my home in Paris.

Winter in Paris can be grey, cold and rainy. But I won't mind. I'll be back home in my warm cozy apartment with Patrice. I can hardly wait.

January 14th

Today is the two-month anniversary of my cancer diagnosis and I feel great. I've had surgery, numerous follow-up visits with doctors, and some physical therapy. My treatment is finished (for now) and I'm free to return to my home in Paris. I can hardly wait. I miss Patrice and our life together.

It hasn't been all bad, though. My extended stay in Colorado has allowed me to spend extra time with my mother, sister, brothers, and extended family. Both of my sons have also traveled from their far-away homes - just to be with me. What a blessing.

I've reconnected with close friends who have supported me for the last 5 years during which I made profound changes in my life. Thank you for that.

This separation has been difficult for Patrice. He does not like me to be so far away. And yet, he has discovered some reserves within himself and has made a point of keeping busy. He has visited his own family and has even made some new friends.

I'm now ready to go back. I leave Denver on January 23rd. I've had lots of time to reflect on my life and I realize that although I grew up in Colorado, my life is no longer here.

I'm going home - to Paris and to Patrice.

Taos in the winter

 My son Eric and I decided to take a little trip to Taos, NM. We are staying with Eric's friends Bob and Martha Felt. Bob and Martha own Redwing Books, publishers of Eric's Concise Materica Medica and his Clinician's Guide to Using Granule Extracts. Martha also has goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and a huge garden. She is a fabulous cook and so Eric and I have been treated to some delicious meals using homegrown ingredients. Yummm.

Bob and Martha live just outside of Taos and have an exquisite view of the mountains to the east and the entire Rio Grande valley to the west.

Casa Felt

  It's been sunny and very cold outside, but warm and toasty inside.

Taos was discovered by Spanish conquistadors in 1540 but it had already been settled by the Tiwa Indians around 1350 AD. We visited the Taos Pueblo a few months ago.

This time, I visited the Spanish mission church of St. Francis of Assisi

 

and the Martinez Hacienda Museum.

 

 

We visited the Rio Grande Gorge which was created by a separation of tectonic plates,

 

 And the Earthship community outside of Taos which features unique solar homes built using only natural and recycled materials.

Happy New Year and Bonne Année

Denver City and County building

I spent Christmas and a very quiet New Year's Eve with family here in Denver. I'll be returning to Paris (finally!) around the 23rd of January.  Happy New Year and Bonne Année to all my friends on both sides of the Atlantic from colorful, wintry Colorado.